Penningdoos bij gedenkpenning van Isaac Rochussen 1672

This small wooden box was made by an anonymous artist to contain a commemorative medal of Isaac Rochussen. The box's simple, understated design reflects the values of Dutch society, where displays of wealth and status were often frowned upon. Considered in its historical moment, we can see this object reflects a very particular attitude to public life. The Dutch Republic was a society dominated by trade and commerce, and this penningdoos embodies a set of values that emphasized frugality, industry, and civic responsibility. Isaac Rochussen himself was a prominent politician and statesman who embodied these virtues, serving as governor-general of the Dutch East Indies and later as prime minister of the Netherlands. To fully understand the cultural significance of this object, we need to turn to historical archives, biographical sources, and studies of Dutch material culture. By examining it in its historical context, we can gain insight into the values and beliefs of Dutch society.